The most prestigious night in Latin music celebrated it’s 20th telecast on Telemundo with an exciting display of music performances featuring world premieres, and surprise collaborations by top music acts. The evening began under the Las Vegas sun at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, where the music, film and TV stars graced the red carpet with stunning beauty and glamour. In a year when Latin music reigned around the world, not surprisingly, the “Despacito” phenomenon by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee proved to be a winner at the 2018 Billboard Latin Music Awards. Led by Daddy Yankee (8), Justin Bieber (7), and Luis Fonsi (7), top winners also included Shakira (5), Christian Nodal (3) and Romeo Santos (3).

“Despacito” earned Luis Fonsi,Daddy Yankee, and Justin Bieber six combined wins including Hot Latin Song of the Year; Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event; Airplay Song of the Year; Digital Song of the Year; Streaming Song of the Year; and Latin Pop Song of the Year. Individually, Daddy Yankee also won Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Solo and Songwriter of the Year for a total of eight wins. With seven awards each, Luis Fonsi earned Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male, whileJustin Bieber picked up Crossover Artist of the Year.

Shakira was the top female artist recipient with five awards including Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female; Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Female; Latin Pop Artist of the year, Solo; Latin Pop Album of the Year with her album "El Dorado" and Tropical Song of the Year for her collaboration with Prince Royce "Déjà Vu.” Christian Nodal picked up three awards for Artist of the Year, New; Regional Mexican Song of the Year for his song "Adios Amor" and Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Solo. Romeo Santos also won three awards including Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male; Tropical Artist of the Year, Solo and Tropical Album of the Year for his album "Golden". Other notable wins include Ozuna who received the coveted Artist of the Year trophy and Maluma winning Social Artist of the Year.

Billboard and Telemundo also recognized the outstanding career of the most successful Latin music rock band of all time, Maná, honoring the group with the Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award.

Hosted this year by TV personalities Gaby Espino and Marco Antonio Regil, the 2018 Billboard Latin Music Awards featured 19 impressive musical performances including the world premiere of Jennifer Lopez’ new single “El Anillo.” The musical acts included:

“Fiebre” - Ricky Martin, Wisin and Yandel

“Me Niego” - Reik, Wisin and Ozuna

‘1,2,3” - Sofia Reyes and De La Guetto

“Ahora me llama” - Karol G and Quavo

“Mitad y Mitad” - Calibre 50

“Mamita” - CNCO

“Ahora / Ambiente” - J. Balvin

“El anillo” - Jennifer Lopez

“Me dejé llevar- Christian Nodal

“Dura” - Daddy Yankee, Natti Natasha, Becky G y Bad Bunny

“Di que sientes tú” - Chayanne

“Amorfoda” - Bad Bunny “El préstamo” - Maluma

“Dura” - Daddy Yankee, Natti Natasha, Becky G and Bad Bunny

“Echame la culpa” - Luis Fonsi

“A partir de hoy” - David Bisbal and Sebastian Yatra

En el muelle de San Blas/Corazón espinado - Maná

La Modelo” - Ozuna and Cardi B

“Amarte duro” - Victor Manuelle

“X” - Nicky Jam and J Balvin

The Billboard Latin Music Awards are the only ones to honor the most popular albums, songs and performers in Latin music, as determined by the actual sales, streaming, radio airplay and social data that informs Billboard's weekly charts during a one-year period from the rankings dated February 4, 2017 through this year's January 27 charts. Based on album sales, digital track sales, streaming data and monitored radio airplay provided by Nielsen Music and social media data provided by Next Big Sound, Billboard’s rankings are the world's most authoritative music charts. Finalists, and the eventual winners, reflect performance of new recordings on Billboard’s albums and songs charts, including Top Latin Albums, Hot Latin Songs, Latin Airplay, Latin Streaming Songs and Latin Digital Songs, among others.